Core Viewpoint - The article investigates the manipulation of online reviews and ratings by "water army" organizations, revealing a systematic approach to creating fake positive reviews and suppressing negative feedback across various e-commerce and social media platforms [1][3][4]. Group 1: Online Review Manipulation - Consumers have reported that negative reviews on certain products mysteriously disappear, while positive reviews dominate the comment sections on live-streaming e-commerce platforms [1]. - The use of coded language such as "S蛋" and "鱼塘" allows users to find hidden content related to review manipulation, despite warnings from platforms [3][4]. - A water army intermediary disclosed that positive reviews can be purchased for 1 yuan per comment, indicating a clear pricing structure for manipulating online perceptions [4][5]. Group 2: Fake Transactions and Reviews - The strategy employed by water armies involves recruiting ordinary consumers to pose as legitimate buyers, posting misleading positive reviews without having used the products [5][6]. - A specific case involved a transaction where a user was instructed to pay a significantly reduced price for a product, only to receive a refund that included a commission, illustrating the deceptive practices used to create the illusion of genuine sales [6][8]. - The article highlights that these operations are designed to evade e-commerce platform algorithms, creating a façade of authentic user engagement [6][8]. Group 3: Broader Implications and Business Models - The manipulation of reviews is not limited to individual sellers; some legitimate platforms are also implicated in promoting review manipulation for increased traffic and profits [9]. - The "freedom to explore" model on platforms like Dazhong Dianping allows users to submit reviews without actual experiences, further blurring the lines of authenticity in consumer feedback [9][11]. - The article also discusses the emergence of a "reporting business" where water armies exploit platform governance rules to extort money from users by threatening account suspensions [21][23].